India’s Paralympians received a rousing welcome at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after their record-breaking performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Several key athletes, including Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, Pranav Soorma, Rakesh Kumar, and Manish Narwal, were greeted with cheers, flower petals, and applause from fans who gathered in large numbers to celebrate their return.
Avani Lekhara, India’s star para-shooter, who became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in Paralympics history, expressed her joy, stating, “It has been a good journey, and we have won many good medals this time.” She secured gold in the women’s 10m air rifle final at the Paris Paralympics.
Mona Agarwal, who also medaled, felt elated at the love and support received, saying, “My Paralympic journey was very good, as it was my first Paralympic.”
Other notable performances included Rakesh Kumar, a para-archer who, alongside Sheetal Devi, secured a bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound event by defeating an Italian team. Kumar credited his success to his coaches and vowed to work even harder for future events.
As of now, India has achieved its highest-ever medal tally at a Paralympics, with 27 medals, including six golds, nine silvers, and 12 bronze medals, surpassing the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
The Paris Paralympics 2024, which began on August 28, will conclude on September 8.
